Short version: David is a dependable, transparent, and fair individual who I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a detail-oriented contractor.
Long version: David managed to step in the middle of a job that was, admittedly, a mess. Last winter the balconies on my house had started to leak through the doors and into the interior. Finding someone to take this on was a nightmare, since most carpenters want nothing to do with water issues and most exterior contractors don't handle interior repairs or finer details. Originally, I hired someone who ended up drastically oversimplifying the job and did questionable work. They completed some of the demolition and started on some construction before we called things off. This left me without a contractor in the middle of July and the thought of going through another winter with this issue was terrifying. Enter David. He was one of the few people who was very responsive when I originally called, was on time to his estimate, and took a healthy amount of time to understand the whole project and do his best to accurately estimate. Once he started work, he was on time, communicated well, and very patient. We did end up blowing through the original estimate, but that was entirely because the scope of the project expanded greatly. David singlehandedly completed a job that was probably meant for a team of 4 to 5, and did so in only a couple months, and kept me in the know every step of the way.
He...
- replaced two balconies from the studs on up
- installed stainless cable railings on both balconies
- redid downspouts
- installed new siding
- redid trim and drip edge for two windows
- reinstalled a door and a sliding door and redid interior/exterior trim for both
- patched and refinished drywall
- installed new belly and fascia board on first and second floor of home
- painted all new wood trim/siding
- patched a couple areas of rot on other side of home
- redid decorative moldings on the bottom balcony supports and poured concrete to fill in patio areas around the new, smaller columns
- installed bead board ceilings and moldings
- redid kitchen vent ductwork to work with the new balconies
- and a myriad of other, smaller tasks
The sheer complexity and array of knowledge required for this job was well above average and I never felt that David was in over his head. Truthfully, this project was probably something akin to a small-scale home remodel. David was thoughtful in his approach, continually made progress, and often spent time mulling over certain details that I hadn't even considered. He also had some great style suggestions for finishings that turned out awesome.
I dealt with at least 10 other people when getting both my original and second round of estimates, and David was the most confidence inspiring. I wanted to go with a smaller operation because larger companies make small changes and alterations a nightmare, and with a job like this, I expected the final plan to look nothing like the initial plan. We did end up adding on a ton of work, hunting down additional water damage, and more, but with David it was just additional time and materials, not a major conversation. I just asked him to be thorough, and he was happy to oblige, and I'm left with a home that feels ready to withstand the worst of our long, wet winters.
In summary, I have nothing but good things to say about the way David organized or carried out the job, and his attention to detail was a breath of fresh air. I plan to hire David again for future projects and look forward to working with him again! read more